FRANKFORT, Kentucky, USA (AP) -- The death toll from Hurricane Helene has risen to 227 as recovery efforts continue more than a week after the devastating storm struck the southeastern United States, affecting six states.
Helene made landfall on September 26 as a Category 4 hurricane, causing widespread destruction as it moved northward, particularly in Florida, where homes were destroyed, roads were damaged, and millions were left without electricity or cellular service.
As of Saturday, the number of fatalities had increased by two in South Carolina, following a previous toll of 225 reported on Friday. The number of missing persons remains uncertain, and the death toll may continue to rise.
This makes Helene the deadliest hurricane to hit the continental United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Nearly half of the fatalities occurred in North Carolina, with additional deaths reported in Georgia and South Carolina.
The city of Asheville in western North Carolina was particularly hard-hit. A week later, workers were using brooms and heavy machinery to clear mud and debris from the New Belgium Brewing Company, one of thousands of businesses and homes affected in the area.
So far, North Carolinians have received over $27 million in individual assistance approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to MaryAnn Tierney, regional administrator of the agency. More than 83,000 individuals have registered for individual assistance, as stated by Governor Roy Cooper's office.
In Buncombe County, where Asheville is located, FEMA-approved assistance has exceeded $12 million for those affected, Tierney noted during a press conference on Saturday.
"This is critical assistance that will help people with their immediate needs, as well as relocation assistance for those who cannot stay in their homes," she detailed.
She encouraged residents impacted by the storm to register for disaster assistance. "It is the first step in the recovery process," she added. "We can provide immediate relief in terms of assistance for urgent needs to replace food, water, medicine, critical items, as well as relocation assistance if they cannot stay in their homes."
This report was contributed by Associated Press journalists Jeff Roberson in Newport, Tennessee; Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa; and Denise Lavoie in Richmond, Virginia.